Delaware adds 67 coronavirus deaths to official total after review of records

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Delaware reported a slowdown in the number of people testing. positive for coronavirus while adding another 67 probable coronavirus deaths to the state’s total after a review of records.

In its Tuesday report, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH)  announced 27 additional positive cases of coronavirus as well as two additional COVID-19-related fatalities involving Delaware residents, as of 6 p.m. Monday.

After completing a review of death certificate records from the Delaware Vital Events Registration System (DelVERS) and comparing that information to epidemiological surveillance data, DPH epidemiologists have identified 67 additional COVID-19 deaths dating back to April 2020 that were not previously reported to DPH through standard reporting procedures, but should be classified as confirmed or probable deaths, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definition.

The  Division of Public Health shared its COVID-19 death data with DPH’s Bureau of Health and Vital Statistics. The bureau’s staff performed a review of the death certifications in the Delaware Vital Events Registration System that list either COVID-19, or SARS CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. 

The move may generate some controversy among critics who claim that nursing home deaths should be kept separate. They claim to patients that many long-term care patients had only a short time to live, regardless of the cause of their demise.

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Gov. John Carney said the additional deaths will not affect decisions regarding the reopening of the state.

This death data comparison identified the following:

  • 32 individuals who were already identified as a confirmed COVID-19 case in the epidemiological surveillance system, but for which DPH did not receive a subsequent report of the person’s death;
  • 26 individuals who did not have a record of a lab result for COVID-19 in the surveillance system;
  • 9 individuals who had previously tested negative for COVID-19. However, the deceased person’s death certificate subsequently listed COVID-19 or SARS CoV-2 as a cause of, or a significant condition contributing to, death.

DPH was also able to determine that approximately 75 percent of the decedents died at a long-term care facility, according to the death records. DPH is working to communicate the reporting requirements with long-term care facilities and hospitals in the state to ensure accuracy and transparency.

Of the 67 deaths added to the state’s total death count, 32 are classified as confirmed due to there being a positive lab result of COVID-19 in DPH’s surveillance system, and 35 deaths are classified as probable, as, per the CDC case definition, the death certificate indicated COVID-19 or SARS CoV-2 as a cause or contributing factor to death.

In the future, DPH will conduct periodic reviews of its Vital Records data to identify additional COVID-19 deaths, which could lead to ongoing increases in the state’s total number of COVID-19 deaths.

With the 67 additional COVID-19 related deaths added to the state’s statistics, 504 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranged in age from 21 to 104 years old. Of those who have died, 267 were females and 237 were males. A total of 239 individuals were from New Castle County, 89 were from Kent County, and 176 were from Sussex County.

The two most recent deaths announced today ranged in age from 72 to 85. One individual was female and one was male. One was a New Castle County resident and one was a Sussex County resident. One individual had known underlying health conditions. One individual was a resident of a long-term care facility.

The latest Delaware COVID-19 case statistics* cumulatively since March 11, provided as of 6 p.m., Monday, June 22, include:

  • 10,847 total positive cases
  • New Castle County cases: 4,697
  • Kent County cases: 1,624
  • Sussex County cases: 4,509
  • Unknown County: 17
  • Females: 6,006; Males: 4,824; Unknown:17
  • Age range: 0 to 104
  • Currently hospitalized: 91; Critically ill:15 (This data represents individuals currently hospitalized in a Delaware hospital regardless of residence, and is not  cumulative.)
  • Delawareans recovered: 6,554
  • 86,689 negative cases**

*Data are provisional and subject to change.

**Data on negative cases are preliminary, based on negative results reported to DPH by state and commercial laboratories performing analysis.

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